DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 09/04/2008 Duedate: 10/01/2008
ARKERS ARENA
DM-8 TURN-300
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
ZIP
Z GLADIATORZ (519)
(8-4383) [16-10-0,114]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
CRIMSON MIST JACKSON
BLOOD RITES (585) GENERALS (590)
(8-5047) [17-6-1,128] (8-5127) [2-0-0,29]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
RABBIT MEERKAT
THE ANIMALS (576) THE ANIMALS (576)
(8-4965) [14-12-0,85] (8-4963) [13-12-0,58]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
BLOOD RITES (585)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. BLOOD RITES (585) 35
2. GENERALS (590) 33 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
3. Z GLADIATORZ (519) 32 Unchartered Team
4. SMITHSONIAN (245) 30
5. MIDDLE WAY 11 (546) 29 GENERALS (590)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1 CONSANGUINEOUS (567) 27 2 0 93.1 1/ 2 BLOOD RITES (585) 11 3 1
2/ 2 ORCISH IDIOMS (563) 54 23 3 70.1 2/ 1 CONSANGUINEOUS (567) 8 1 0
3/ 3 Z GLADIATORZ (519) 122 62 0 66.3 3/ 4 SMITHSONIAN (245) 8 5 0
4/ 4 BLOOD RITES (585) 68 42 4 61.8 4/ 3 LADIES IN WAITING (115) 7 3 0
5/ 5 SMITHSONIAN (245) 588 376 13 61.0 5/ 6*GENERALS (590) 7 8 1
6/ 6 LADIES IN WAITING (115) 316 262 12 54.7 6/ 7 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546) 6 9 0
7/ 9*GENERALS (590) 12 13 2 48.0 7/ 8 THE ANIMALS (576) 6 9 0
8/ 7 THE ANIMALS (576) 60 69 0 46.5 8/ 5 LEVIATHAN (556) 4 11 0
9- 8 PENUMBRAL MISTS (571) 57 67 1 46.0 9/10 Z GLADIATORZ (519) 3 2 0
10/10 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546) 114 154 2 42.5 10/ 9 ORCISH IDIOMS (563) 1 2 0
11/11 LEVIATHAN (556) 51 119 4 30.0 11-11 PENUMBRAL MISTS (571) 1 4 0
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian Succession #11 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Istoreth, Skaithvarn:
"Somehow I hadn't expected the city to be so beautiful," Gissaniah said. "All
these white towers and colonnades and..." she waved her hand vaguely to encompass the
relentless architectural unity of the the S'varnian city.
"Gets to you, doesn't it?"
The voice behind her was not Sedalia's, and she turned to see who had come up.
A man, tall, lean, dark-skinned and well-dressed in the Delarquan style, narrow
features with a slightly elvish cast, white hair and neatly trimmed beard. "I don't
believe we've been introduced?" she said.
"Tainvar of Osksi. An ambassador of sorts."
"From Osksi to Istoreth?"
He shrugged. "We have a trade agreement. It pleases the Istorese to have one
of the Twelve around to watch it." He stared along the graceful curve of the street
ahead of them, all white columns and narrow, dark cypresses. "We take it in turns,"
he added. "This isn't a good place for ordinary people to be."
"Why not?" Another voice behind, and this time it was the senator. Gissanniah
turned farther and saw that Sedalia, though in a freshly pressed white suit, was
looking frazzled around the edges.
"The magic," Tainvar said. His stare at the street deepened to a frown, his
hand creeping toward his belt dagger. "I always thought the Adantri were perverse,
or at least unreasonable, in banning all magic from their lands. But if they'd been
subjected to this--" He waved his hand at the vista and snorted. "Well, then I
could understand how they came to take against magic."
Sedalia's eyebrows rose and he looked around carefully. So did Gissanniah.
Grace, beauty, perfection. It was depressing. "Illusion?" the senator asked.
The Osksian nodded. "Some, at least. Hard to know which or how much. I
suppose it's cheaper than paint." He shrugged and sighed, then faced the gladiators
squarely. "And why are you here? Andoria trying to negotiate a treaty, too?"
"Just passing through," Sedalia said smoothly. "A little magical glitch when we
tried to get off the Isle of the Eye. We're headed for home, as soon as we, ah, do
some little service for our 'hosts'--"
"Very hot on getting value for their effort, the Istorese," Tainvar said. "I
wish you good luck of them. If you have more trouble than seems reasonable getting
away, I have a ship."
"I seem to recall that Delarquans are also, as you put it, hot on getting value
for their effort," Sedalia said. "And while there is no war that I know of between
Andoria and the Federation, still, you will understand if I'm hesitant."
Tainvar shrugged again, looking uncomfortable. "Just... a hunch that we might
be able to do each other a service or two," he said finally. "Without prejudice to
either of our national interests."
"National interests," the senator said, tasting the phrase. "The Delarquan
Federation is no more a monolithic single entity than the Andorian League, perhaps
less, and no more possessed of a single focus of interest."
"Yes. And times are unsettled. A friend is always good to have." The
Delarquan looked past them down the avenue. "Ah. The Lord High Magician comes, and
I suspect you are about to learn what the Istorese would have you do. I will leave
you to it." He moved off quickly, slipping into a side street that the two
gladiators hadn't noticed up to that point.
The magician--he wasn't one of the ones they'd met at the lake--stared at them
for several moments. "I am not convinced that the specificity of the spell
guarantees you can do the job that awaits," he said. He looked them up and down and
pursed his lips. "The two of you appear to be simply... muscle. The task will call
for more, for wit and subtlety. Are you capable of that?"
Sedalia bristled, there was no other word for it. Gissanniah was reminded of a
dog challenged on its own territory by a cur of dubious origin. "I am a politician
of many years' experience," he said. "I can do wit, subtlety, and cunning maneuver
with any demon you care to name and come out in a draw or better."
"Were you not a politician," the magician said, "I would advise you to pray, but
it is known that politicians worship no god. Never the less, you must hope that you
have not overstated your ability, for it is against just such risks that you must
contend. Come." He turned and stalked off down the avenue.
Sedalia glanced at Gissanniah and shrugged. She shrugged back. They followed
the Istorene down through the too-perfect streets of the city toward the waterfront.
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian Succession #12 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Fratsfa:
Fandil and Lenpro drew rein on the top of the hill, pausing to let their horses
breathe and to look down into the valley where the ancient city of Fratsfa lay
sprawled.
"When I'm away from here," Fandil said, "I forget how much of the city is...
old."
"Go ahead and say 'ruined'," Lenpro replied.
"How about, ah, antique and picturesque?"
"Old, abandoned, and falling apart," Lenpro countered. There were times when
diplomatic phrasing just didn't do it for him, and this was one of them. Half the
city was in abandoned ruins, and what was the use putting a polite face on it?
They'd better hope that it didn't indicate that "antique and picturesque" appealed to
Emperor Alonj. Well, they'd find out soon enough. He dismissed the whole question
with an abrupt gesture. "That isn't why we're here. We have to find a new king for
the Andorian League, while there's still a League at all. Let's get on with it." He
nudged his mount forward.
Fandil followe. "A 'fixer-upper' of a city?" he suggested. "I hope this
doesn't represent Along's taste."
Lenpro shrugged. "We'll find out."
"Lady Fern will know," Fandil agreed.
They went straight to the guildhouse run by Consortium member Lady Fern,
entering through the back.
The heavy, earthy scent of growing things, overlaid with a mixture of flower
scents, greeted them, closely followed by Lady Fern herself. She was frowning. "The
back entrance is not for the use of-- Why, Fandil and Lenpro! It's been a long time
since you came for a visit. Come into my private office and we can talk or whatever
seems appropriate, hmm? Should I call some of the girls to... bring us wine?"
Fandil blushed. "Not right now, Fern," he said. "We've a lot of talking to do
first."
She sighed but led the way into the room she used as an office, which to Lenpro
would be better described as a boudoir. A luxurious boudoir. "I suppose you've come
about the news of Andor," she said. "The whole city is buzzing with it, and probably
the countryside for miles around."
"The news of Andor," Fandil repeated, speaking slowly as though tasting a wine
of dubious origin. "Tell us the news of Andor as you've heard it, Fern."
She shrugged and looked away for a moment. "They say that the king has returned
to Andor from the Isle. Some say it isn't the king, though, that no one could be
sure, just seeing him riding through the city in a carriage. How many people are
there who knew him well and are still around, after all? Some say that, king or not,
something is wrong. Magic, illness, impersonation, the rumors get wilder by the
hour. And it all comes down to rumors, in the end, there isn't anything I'd call
firm information." She turned back to face them. "What have you heard?"
"Less, because we've been traveling," Lenpro said. "But enough to know that
even if that is truly the King of Andor, alive, well, in his right mind, whatever,
it's too little and too late. The League is in jeopardy, and the king has lost the
confidence of his subjects." He glanced at his companion for further comment.
Fandil sat unmoving for several minutes, staring into his goblet of wine as
though it were a crystal ball. "The king is dead," he said finally, "or as good as
dead, so far as the League is concerned."
Fern nodded once. "I feared that might be so. Some of my personal contacts--
not like that, Lenpro, so you needn't smirk!--have hinted at it. But what is to be
done about it?"
"Replace the king with someone who will take the governance of the League
seriously," Lenpro said. "That, or watch it fall apart, with the Delarquans
encroaching from the south and the Karnhorns from the north."
"Just 'replace the king'? I see your point, but it's easier said than done,"
Lady Fern countered. "People will see it as rebellion, whatever they do or don't
think about the king."
"If the new king is someone chosen 'at large', so to speak, yes," Lenpro said.
"But if it's someone who has legitimacy, who would be recognized as having it--"
"Such as? You must have a specific person in mind."
"Emperor Alonj of Fratsfa."
"He won't do it," Fern said.
Lenpro ignored that. "There are the long-standing rumors that he's either
insane or feeble-minded, of course, not that many people would object to either of
those qualities in a king, but... is there any truth in those rumors?"
"No. I think, myself, it was his mother's doing. Maybe not her intent, but her
fault anyway. Since his marriage, Emperor Alonj has demonstrated to the satisfaction
of the people here that he is sane and intelligent. Which is why he won't accept the
position of king of the League. He isn't thrilled being Emperor of the Frafrejan
Empire, however shrunken it is now, so how much less thrilled would he be if he was
ruler of the whole of Andoria with real authority?" She shook her head. "He won't
do it." She glanced at Fandil in appeal, but the old mage refused to meet her eyes
or to say anything.
"It's his plain duty," Lenpro said. "And he should be able to see that, when
it's pointed out. Would he take the post on those terms, do you think?"
Fern sighed. "Probably, but it seems cruel to condemn the man to such a fate,
now that he's had a few years of happiness to make the contrast. His wife won't be
thrilled, either."
"Will she oppose it?"
"No. she understands 'duty', too. But it will be important to have her support
before you ever approach Alonj."
"That's exactly the kind of inside information we need," Lenpro said. "Do you
know anyone who can arrange a meeting with her?"
"Oh, I can do that," Fern said. "We met some time ago, quite by accident--she's
interested in flowers. But she's friendly, and we still get together now and then.
Girl talk, you know. I can arrange something."
"You're a wonder, Lady Fern."
"Yes, Lenpro, I know. And don't you forget it."
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Andorian Succession #13 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
Andor:
"I have never heard of this Korneth, or of Sengir," Crystal Fireblade said.
"Who is he that he should become king of the Andorian League? What do you know of
him?"
"Little more than you do. He is as ambitious as any man I've ever seen," Herlas
said. "Ruthless. As to his background, nothing. People who asked questions when he
first appeared... disappeared."
The woman glanced at him, and her eyes reminded him of her name: Fireblade.
"Did YOU try, magician?"
"Yes. I have never liked dealing with the unknown."
"And yet, here you are. Not disappeared." One hand went to the hilt of her
sword.
He looked away and shrugged. Hoped his face wasn't red with the memory of that.
"It was a close thing, I think. But he needed a magician he could control, and he...
decided he could control me."
"How?"
Now he was sure he was flushing, and it was all he could do not to hang his head
in shame. But he kept his voice steady. "Blackmail. I have done things in the past
that I would not like made public--"
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Worse things than just... indiscretions and bending of the rules. Things I
bitterly regret, now, when it's too late to not-do them. Things that, well, would
make it laughable for ME to be trying to do the right thing now, if it weren't for
the fact that no one else seems willing or able."
Fireblade's eyebrows rose. "And you know what is the 'right thing' to do now?"
"Gods, I wish! I'm hoping you've got a clue here, Lady. But at the least, I
will take Korneth with me, if I go down. I have already done what I can to insure
that."
She made a sharp gesture with one hand, to dismiss his statement. Or so he
thought. Until he noticed Korneth approaching. He went hot with embarrassment
again. How many years had it been since he'd made such an amateur's mistake as not
watching who was around him?
When Korneth reined his mount around to ride beside the magician, Herlas said,
"I'm not sure this parade was a good idea."
"You think not? But there were people beginning to wonder if the king was dead,
you know. It is necessary for a people to have confidence in the existence of its
leader."
Herlas wondered if the mocking undertone in Korneth's voice was intentional.
"It may give them a belief in his continued existence," he said, "but it hardly
inspires confidence in his fitness to rule."
"It just reminds them of how little has been done for the League as a whole in
the past few years," Fireblade added.
Korneth smiled. It was his smile that had first warned Herlas that this man
was... unusual. An old woman he had known when he was a child, a servant in his
family's house, had once described such a smile as 'someone who's sharing a joke with
seven devils, and so full of himself he doesn't believe anyone will catch him out'.
Did Korneth honestly think everyone was too stupid to figure out that he was up to no
good? Or did he just not care? Herlas heard Crystal Fireblade catch her breath
sharply beside him. She saw it, too, so he wasn't just imagining things.
"Perhaps it's just as well," Korneth said. "Let people once realize that the
king--who has no heir--is no longer fit to rule, and they will look with more favor
on a new dynasty." He raised a finger, and two men clad all in black, one in a
nobleman's silk and velvet, the other in the plainest of plebian garb, drew near.
Assassins. "A new dynasty that is prepared to maintain itself and rule with a firm
hand and a sharp blade. It will be like... the old days." He smiled again and
spurred his horse forward, but the assassins stayed behind.
Istoreth, Skaithvarn:
Whatever spell was on the city of Istoreth to make it perfect and beautiful did
not extend to the waterfront. It was simply a working waterfront. Prosperous, busy,
noisy with the shouts of venders and the cries of gulls, odorous with the stink of
ancient fish. The gladiators could see vessels that hailed from ports all around the
glacier-fed lake that was the Trier Sea. Gissanniah began to count them off in her
mind, dragonheaded ships from Snowbound, Karnhorn ships with two or three banks of
slave rowers, white-sailed Andorian ships, intricately painted hulls of the elves of
Ardivent, so many more, as a way to avoid looking at the blot of darkness anchored in
the center of the harbor.
It was the shape of a ship, as large as any other there, dead black so that it
drank any light that fell on it. A tall mast rose from the center but seemed too
slender to support sails against any earthly wind. No oars were visible. All the
normal ships appeared to be shrinking away from it toward the edges of the harbor.
"That is your task," the Istorene High Magician said, nodding toward the Black
Ship. The gladiators noted that he didn't look directly at it. "We want that gone
from our harbor, gone from our waters entirely. Make it so. If you can."
Senator Sedalia took a deep breath, paused for a moment, and then said, "It's a
challenge, no doubt about it. We'll do what we can."
Gissanniah just restrained herself from hitting him. What could they do? What
could gladiatorial skills or political savvy do against that blot on the Trier?
Sedalia turned to the mage. "Tell us what you know of this ship," he said.
"Since you sought demons rather than marines to rid yourself of it, I presume it's
magical in nature?"
"Magical, and of the darkest nature. Demonic, almost certainly. It comes from
Kurukar, where the accursed kaliv has opened the Darkest Door."
Sedalia nodded. "We have heard rumors and unconfirmed reports of the kaliv's
activities," he admitted. "We get little news out of Aradi now, but there is a hint
that a Chaos Lord there is considering the use of his special skills against
Kurukar."
"No!" The Istorene faced them squarely, which he had not done till now, and his
eyes were full of lightning while sparks leapt from the points of his mustache.
"There must be no unleashing of Chaos magic against the demonic forces, or the whole
world might be unmade!"
* }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ *
---===ANDORIAN REGIONAL NEWS===---
Duelmasters
-----------
DM 8 ARKERS (turn 299): MISS TOOK of LADIES IN WAITING (Crip, mgr.)
DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 601): ONEWOLF of WOLFBROTHERS (Doc Steele, mgr.)
DM 14 TOBIR (turn 600): WESTON of OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (The Mun, mgr.)
DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 593): LIPSTICK of KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 590): ASH LEELA of MINGALOIDS (Barnabas, mgr.)
DM 25 LYRATILAN (turn 589): STAN DAUFF of FUNKY FOLK (Papa Bear, mgr.)
DM 26 CALEAM (turn 586): ALEGRIA of MENAGERIE (Ichabod Frothingslosh, mgr.)
DM 30 IAYE (turn 582): NULN of I TRAINED THEM (Soultaker, mgr.)
DM 40 ZENSU (turn 552): WHIPPED WEASEL of EXOTIC TASTES (Soultaker, mgr.)
DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 543): GUNS OF BRIXTON of RADIO CLASH (Rude Buddha, mgr.)
DM 46 ARDIVENT (turn 534): DECEPTIVE DELILA of THE ZEN ZONE (Jondeaux, mgr.)
DM 52 FRATSFA (turn 247): LEO of DARQUE AGES (Master Darque, mgr.)
DM 63 AMEN-TEI (turn 436): DIMAGGIO oF 1949 YANKEES (Papa Bear, mgr.)
DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 201): BENITO CHATTE of THE ZOO (Jorja, mgr.)
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 486): VISION of KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
Top Teams
---------
DM 8 ARKERS (turn 299): CONSANGUINEOUS (Mannequin, mgr.)
DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 601): KRILL CAVALRY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 14 TOBIR (turn 600): OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (The Mun, mgr.)
DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 593): KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
DM 24 ZORPUNT (turn 590): KRILL CAVALRY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 25 LYRATILAN (turn 589): FUNKY FOLK (Papa Bear, mgr.)
DM 26 CALEAM (turn 586): MENAGERIE (Ichabod Frothingslosh, mgr.)
DM 30 IAYE (turn 582): LENPROS (Lenpro, mgr.)
DM 40 ZENSU (turn 552): MEDAL OF HONOR G1 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 543): MEDAL OF HONOR H3 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 46 ARDIVENT (turn 534): DEATHTONGUE (Technogeek, mgr.)
DM 52 FRATSFA (turn 247): ZERO (Ice Man, mgr.)
DM 63 AMEN-TEI (turn 463): 1949 YANKEES (Papa Bear, mgr.)
DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 201): POSITION IS EMPTY
ADM 105 ANDORAK (turn 486): KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
Recent Graduates
----------------
DM 8 ARKERS (turn 298): UNHOLY TERROR of BLOOD RITES (Wretch, mgr.)
DM 11 ARUAK CITY (turn 600): SMUSH of NEVERWAKE (Doc Steele, mgr.)
SLY APPARITION of IMMORTALS (Dartor, mgr.)
DM 22 SOLVEN (turn 592): DONDRIC of KELLUMBO'S KIDS (Detective Kellumbo, mgr.)
DM 26 CALEAM (turn 586): ALEGRIA of MENAGERIE (Ichabod Frothingslosh, mgr.)
DM 40 ZENSU (turn 552): BELA LUGOSI of MEN OF 1,000 FACES (Mad Max, mgr.)
DM 41 KATI-TEI (turn 543): GUNS OF BRIXTON of RADIO CLASH (Rude Buddha, mgr.)
DM 71 KYR'TERR (turn 201): BENITO CHATTE of THE ZOO (Jorja, mgr.)
SPY REPORT
Well, what are you looking at, ARKERS? Ain't you never seen Snide Clemens
before? Ah, shaddup and listen to my news. Later days, CONSANGUINEOUS, since BLOOD
RITES took top team from you this turn, you guys are old news. Now let's all watch Z
GLADIATORZ's heads swell from their 3-0-0 this turn. Haa ha ha ha! Big shots, big
talk, big deal. Of course, we're all terribly impressed to see SANTA MARIA win a
fight and gain 25 points, terribly. Tsk, tsk, SANTA MARIA beat CONUNDRUM and
CONUNDRUM lost 19 points. You're breakin' my heart. And it's out with the old, in
with the new, as ZIP takes the Title and last week's bar tab from the old Duelmaster.
Heh, heh. I'm not in a very good mood today, but why am I telling you this? You
want to know what's new, don't you, ARKERS?
My mother always told me, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, start
talking.' I loved that woman. ARKERS, I am losing what little hope I had in you.
CONSANGUINEOUS the most avoided team? What insult will suffice, I cannot say. And
who led the way in this mass act of cowardice? Let's see, well, whatcha know? It
was SMITHSONIAN. Ha ha ha ha! CRIMSON MIST was challenged more times this turn than
the Duelmaster. Now was the DM insulted or feared? Heh, heh. I notice CRIMSON MIST
challenging down 24 points to fight PEARL HARBOR, BLOOD RITES doubtless has some
rotten excuse for such an insult to honor. And sorry to say, CRIMSON MIST beat PEARL
HARBOR, leaving a bad feeling with the crowd. I think exploitive snob is the term
I'm looking for. I guess I can give a little credit to JACKSON of GENERALS for
challenging up by 20 to SIR MARTIN. JACKSON won to get 29 points of recognition.
Death and Taxes. The less death I see, the more it taxes my patience. Let's
see if anyone's dead or dying. Gee, THE ANIMALS, ain't it past due for sending ALLEY
CAT Dark Arena? What took ol' '7-14-0' so long? Hope? Ha ha aha ha! Bye bye,
warrior, bye bye... SAM, a glorious 4-5-0 fighter, has passed away. Gee, too bad
LEVIATHAN. Honor is like a chainmail shirt, it only shines through use. Certain
nameless cowards will doubtless rebuke me on this one.
What does the ARKERS arena have in common with the inns? It's just as
comfortable to sleep in either place. Ha ha ha ha! Just wait 'till next time I show
up here, I won't be so nice! So nyaaah! Paste this one in your scrapbooks, you'll
need the kindling come this winter-- Snide Clemens
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ZIP 4383 16 10 0 114 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
CRIMSON MIST 5047 17 6 1 128 BLOOD RITES (585)
FEORDIS INK 4746 21 34 0 107 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)
-ME CHEAT U LOSE 4854 10 4 0 101 ORCISH IDIOMS (563)
-KIK BAKET OW TOE 4852 9 4 0 99 ORCISH IDIOMS (563)
MISS TOOK 4091 17 14 1 97 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
IMBER LACK 4748 21 31 0 94 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)
ROCK GLAS HUT FUN 4851 15 7 3 93 ORCISH IDIOMS (563)
ZENITH 5082 8 4 0 92 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
ZINGER 4890 20 7 0 88 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
PEARL HARBOR 5076 11 6 0 87 SMITHSONIAN (245)
RABBIT 4965 14 12 0 85 THE ANIMALS (576)
SANTA MARIA 5092 5 3 0 84 SMITHSONIAN (245)
-NYTHIA 4923 15 10 0 83 PENUMBRAL MISTS (571)
-MISS COMMUNE KATE 4118 13 12 0 82 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
-MORNGRYM 4926 11 14 0 80 PENUMBRAL MISTS (571)
AERYN SUN 4811 17 22 0 77 LEVIATHAN (556)
-CONSTERNATION 4896 6 0 0 74 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
-CONFIDENCE 4894 6 0 0 67 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
KERBIN NOTTS 5040 9 15 0 66 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)
CONCUSSION 4893 4 1 0 65 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
MARSHMALLOW 4878 11 24 3 64 LEVIATHAN (556)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-GOT CAT'S TONGUE 4855 11 5 0 64 ORCISH IDIOMS (563)
-MISS MATCHED 4709 5 2 0 64 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
MORG POTTS 4868 14 21 0 63 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)
-ZERO 4658 6 1 0 63 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
CONUNDRUM 4892 8 1 0 60 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
CHAOS BLADE 5108 5 0 0 60 BLOOD RITES (585)
MEERKAT 4963 13 12 0 58 THE ANIMALS (576)
-MISS CONSTRUED 4419 8 12 0 58 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
INDIOR LANDIS 5058 10 12 0 57 MIDDLE WAY 11 (546)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BOILING BLOOD 5093 9 6 0 56 BLOOD RITES (585)
-ZILCH 5081 6 0 0 56 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
WAR BOND 5066 11 8 0 52 SMITHSONIAN (245)
BLOOD STAIN 5049 13 10 0 49 BLOOD RITES (585)
BULL FROG 5022 11 11 0 44 THE ANIMALS (576)
-FAT CAT YUMMY 4863 9 3 0 44 ORCISH IDIOMS (563)
AROURA 4928 6 22 1 41 LEVIATHAN (556)
WATERLOO 5119 4 0 0 36 SMITHSONIAN (245)
-ONIROMANCER 5023 8 10 0 34 PENUMBRAL MISTS (571)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
GERONIMO 5125 2 1 0 29 SMITHSONIAN (245)
JACKSON 5127 2 0 0 29 GENERALS (590)
-MALBORGIA V 5084 6 4 0 27 PENUMBRAL MISTS (571)
-CONFESSION 4895 3 0 0 27 CONSANGUINEOUS (567)
MEADE 5115 3 2 1 25 GENERALS (590)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SIR MARTIN 5083 4 10 0 22 LEVIATHAN (556)
-MACHIAVELLA 5085 5 5 0 20 PENUMBRAL MISTS (571)
-MISS PLACED 4723 2 2 0 15 LADIES IN WAITING (115)
GENGHIS KHAN 5118 2 3 0 11 GENERALS (590)
CAESAR 5114 2 3 1 10 GENERALS (590)
KUBLA KHAN 5126 1 1 0 9 GENERALS (590)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
SAM 5101 4 6 0 LEVIATHAN 556 MEADE 5115 300
ALLEY CAT 5021 7 15 0 THE ANIMALS 576 ARENAMASTER SHER 300 NONE
GORRILLA 5099 5 6 0 THE ANIMALS 576 MOUNTAIN TROLL 300 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
As the Smithsonian donation to the needy, our ads last turn were contributed to a
hungry Hal. We hope he is feeling better. -- Curator
Genghis Khan defeated at Waterloo? Hmmmm, seems kind of out of place, doesn't it?
But a win is a win is a win. -- Waterloo
Meade -- You and your Generals know not what you get into. How! -- Geronimo
Bull Frog -- It was my pleasure to make you hop. Glad you didn't croak. -- War Bond
Virginal Concubine -- Thanks for being there. I am glad I am ambidextrous. -- Pearl
Harbor
Congratulations to Miss Took, the grand Duelmaster. -- Curator
All, don't miss the Turf War, soon to be held in DM47. Take on all comers, including
the defending champions "Return Of The SCOMSS" and earn the title of Turf War Champ.
Teams are forming. Read all the details in your local newsletter. -- Curator
Conundrum -- No wonder I cannot reach great heights with a puzzle like you. Hmpfff!
-- Zenith
I do not know where our head was, but expect more Z Gladiators fighting. -- The Z Man
Confidence -- I could see from the start that you had it. Now I see that you have
earned it. Damn, I hate that in an opponent. Give me an over-confident bumbling
idiot any day! -- Morg Potts
P.S. Wasn't five minutes a little long, though? You could've done that faster, I
bet.
Crimson Mist -- I saw that. Well, it was really more peach colored. Dawn, you know,
with not-quite-fog. Very decorative. -- Imber Lack
P.S. You aren't decorative, however, just a bloody mess.
Miss Commune Kate -- I started to explain the choreography, but it didn't seem to get
through. Or maybe it was your response that didn't get through. Whatever. Good
try. -- Feordis Ink
P.S. The Commission staff couldn't believe I won. Darned if I know why. I *have*
won fights now and then, I'm not totally hopeless, you know.
Boiling Blood -- Gods, what a stink! I wasn't sure the old standbys, baking soda and
vinegar (used separately) would work, but they did. I was glad of that, the stench
was enough to gag a maggot. -- Indior Landis
Blood Stain -- Ah, but Debby Tonte has shown us how to deal with that. Soak in cold
water and hand wash. -- Kerbin Knotts
P.S. And if that doesn't work, get one of those infamous enzymic "stain eaters."
Aeryn Sun -- Since I don't have a lifeless corpse (Jorja frowns on keeping that kind
of thing around the guildhouse), the point is moot. -- Morg Pots
Aeryn Sun -- Ah. Um, I have completely lost the thread of this conversation, so how
about if you change into one of those stunning outfits I know you have in your closet
and we go out for dinner, instead? -- Imber Lack
9 August 2008
All -- We are currently looking for capable manager that will give the Desolate
Empire Alliance a full roster for the Turf War. We currently have four (4) roster
slots that are open to capable managers without questionable morals. If interested
for the Turf War, contact: Lamar Treas-Wilson, Dok Sik, Dok Sik Killas DM 47
8 July 2008
*****************************************************
**********************ATTENTION**********************
*****************************************************
ALLIANCES
OF
ALASTARI
*****************************************************
**********************ATTENTION**********************
*****************************************************
*TURF WAR VI RULES*
Starting Nov 2008 (10 turns)
Anyone may participate; known alliances, new alliances, or temporary alliances created solely to compete in the Turf War! To participate, each alliance must:
1. Announce the alliance and the Captain of the alliance in the North Fork
(DM 47) newsletter.
2. Announcements made on the D2 Forums will not be accepted.
Captains are responsible for:
1. Verifying those who wish to participate under the banner of their
alliance;
2. Distribution of prizes should their alliance win the Turf War.
3. Submit one (1) RSI Roll-Up Certificate to participate
Participating managers who are not Captains must:
1. Submit one (1) RSI Roll-Up Certificate to participate
2. Announce their intent to compete with manager name, team name, and
alliance they will represent in the North Fork (DM 47) newsletter.
Announcement made on the D2 Forums will not be accepted.
a. No scores will be tabulated until a Gift Certificate is received.
No EXCEPTIONS.
b. Before a manager can compete, he/she must declare themselves in
the North Fork (DM 47) newsletter as stated above AND be verified
by the alliance Captain they will represent.
c. Only one (1) team per player may compete. No multiple teams or
aliases will be allowed. Violations will result in immediate
disqualification from the Turf War (so be sure to take any
multiple teams OFF of Team Maintenance).
d. Scoring will NOT be retroactive for teams that do not properly
declare or fail to send a Gift Certificate by Turn 1. In other
words, if your Gift Certificate is not received until Turn 3 of
the Turf War, and you have fought on Turns 1 and 2, your scoring
will not begin until Turn 3. All conditions must be met before
scoring will begin--declaration, verification, and Gift
Certificate received.
e. No declarations or verifications will be accepted after Turn 5 of
the Turf War.
f. For purposes of scoring, the moderators will score the Turf War
and settle any and all disputes as they arise. Their decisions
will be final.
Scoring will be as follows for Fights:
Win Loss Kill Die
Challenge +2 -2 +5 -5
Match Up +1 -1 +1 -5
Bloodfeud +2 -5 +5 -10
Champion x2 x2 x2 x2
Dark Arena* +10 -5 xx xx
*After 2nd win, warrior scores no points for wins
Special Scoring Considerations for the Turf War are as follows:
Spy Report mention (team name only) +2
Style Master +2
Duelmaster +2
Champions:
1. A Champion may be declared, but one is not mandatory.
2. Only one Champion allowed per manager at any given time.
3. Champions that graduate or are killed by another warrior in the arena, but
not the Dark Arena, may be replaced.
4. Champions must be in the Adepts bracket or lower on the turn they are
declared, and may NOT have gone above Adepts level at any time; this
includes teams transferred into North Fork for the Turf War.
Bloodfeuds:
1. Bloodfeuds will score points on all four (4) turns.
2. There is no limit to which warrior may bloodfeud or how often.
Tournament Considerations:
1. Tournament participation is ALLOWED and encouraged.
2. Tournament Victors won during the course of the contest will gain a one
(1) time bonus of 25 points. This bonus will apply EACH time a
warrior(s) wins such status.
3. Tournament Champions won during the course of the contest will gain a one
(1) time bonus of 50 points. This bonus will apply EACH time a
warrior(s) win such status.
4. Points for TVs and TCs will be applied the Turn after RSI posts
tournament results in the North Fork (DM 47) newsletter (i.e., if the
results post on North Fork turn 275, points will be credited on North
Fork turn 276 to the applicable teams).
Special Considerations:
1. Each alliance begins the Turf War with zero (0) points.
2. There will be NO alliance or team changes once the contest has begun. If
you begin the Turf War with Alliance A, you must end the Turf War with
Alliance A. If you begin the Turf War with Team A, you must end the Turf
War with Team A.
3. There will be a maximum of seven (7) teams allowed per alliance for the
Turf War.
4. The Dark Arena may be used on the first turn only, of every warrior,
without penalty.
Prizes:
The Turf War is a "winner take all" contest. All prizes and 100% of the Gift
Certificates will be awarded to the Captain of the winning alliance. It is the
responsibility of the Captain to distribute Gift Certificates. Moderators will
submit a list of each manager on the winning alliance to RSI at the completion of the
contest for the non-Certificate prizes.
The following prizes have been secured from RSI:
1. Renaming of the North Fork (DM 47) arena;
2. Renaming of Dark Arena Monsters (one for each manager in the winning
alliance);
3. Known Favorites for one warrior on each team of the winning alliance
(warrior must be ranked Initiate or above, must be alive, and must have
at least one arena fight to receive this award).
4. +1 Skill bonus potion for each manager on the winning alliance. Bonus
potion must be applied to a living warrior from (DM 47)
5. +1 Skill bonus potion (one) for each manager who fights in all 10 rounds
AND 45 fights of the Turf War. Bonus potion must be applied to a living
warrior from (DM 47)
These awards will be listed by the Moderator for claiming from RSI (Lee) within 4
turns of the end of TW VI.
Moderators:
The Moderators for this event will be Oz and Master Darque. They will arbitrate all
dealings during the course of the contest. Their decisions will be final. All
questions, comments, and scoring disputes may be directed to Land of Oz or Darque
Forces via diplo in DM 47. Managers with internet access may send a private message
to [The Consortium] or [Darque] on the Duel2 Forums. Lastly, you may also email
questions, comments, and scoring disputes to rebelnerfherder at yahoo dot com.
Please note there have been rule changes from the last Turf War. Please read them
carefully!
Contest will begin in November following the Fall Mail In Tournament.
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
ALLEY CAT was butchered by ARENAMASTER SHEROVAN in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
GORRILLA was dispatched by MOUNTAIN TROLL in a 1 minute Dark Arena battle.
CRIMSON MIST handily defeated PEARL HARBOR in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge match.
AERYN SUN was outwaited by ZINGER in a slow 16 minute veteran's Challenge contest.
WAR BOND was savagely defeated by CONCUSSION in a 1 minute Challenge competition.
BLOOD STAIN was savagely defeated by MEERKAT in a 5 minute Challenge struggle.
KUBLA KHAN was overpowered by WATERLOO in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee.
CAESAR was vanquished by GERONIMO in a 1 minute uneven Challenge duel.
MEADE slew SAM in a 2 minute Challenge duel.
JACKSON viciously subdued SIR MARTIN in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
MISS TOOK was savagely defeated by ZIP in a 1 minute brutal veteran's Title fight.
IMBER LACK was devastated by ZENITH in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
FEORDIS INK luckily beat ROCK GLAS HUT FUN in a popular 3 minute master's match.
RABBIT overcame MORG POTTS in a 2 minute veteran's conflict.
CONUNDRUM was vanquished by SANTA MARIA in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
MARSHMALLOW was vanquished by KERBIN NOTTS in a 1 minute bloody one-sided fray.
AROURA was devastated by CHAOS BLADE in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
BULL FROG was overpowered by BOILING BLOOD in a 1 minute one-sided match.
INDIOR LANDIS beat AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 2 minute gory match.
GENGHIS KHAN overcame STRAY CATMAN in a 1 minute amateur's competition.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK 8 AIMED BLOW 27 - 12 - 0 69 |
|TOTAL PARRY 5 LUNGING ATTACK 29 - 18 - 1 62 |
|AIMED BLOW 4 BASHING ATTACK 43 - 27 - 2 61 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 4 STRIKING ATTACK 11 - 8 - 0 58 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 4 PARRY-LUNGE 5 - 4 - 1 56 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 4 WALL OF STEEL 11 - 13 - 0 46 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 3 PARRY-RIPOSTE 15 - 19 - 0 44 |
|WALL OF STEEL 2 SLASHING ATTACK 23 - 31 - 0 43 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 TOTAL PARRY 22 - 33 - 0 40 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 6 - 9 - 0 40 |
Turn 300 was great if you Not so great if you used The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles: the fighting styles: top eleven warriors are:
AIMED BLOW 3 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 2 4 BASHING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 1 SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 3 2 TOTAL PARRY
BASHING ATTACK 5 - 3 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 1 AIMED BLOW
TOTAL PARRY 3 - 2 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 1 STRIKING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 2 - 2 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 2 1 SLASHING ATTACK
1 LUNGING ATTACK
1 WALL OF STEEL
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
BASHING ATTACK ZIP 4383 16 10 0 114 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
AIMED BLOW CRIMSON MIST 5047 17 6 1 128 BLOOD RITES (585)
LUNGING ATTACK ROCK GLAS HUT FUN 4851 15 7 3 93 ORCISH IDIOMS (563)
TOTAL PARRY ZINGER 4890 20 7 0 88 Z GLADIATORZ (519)
WALL OF STEEL PEARL HARBOR 5076 11 6 0 87 SMITHSONIAN (245)
STRIKING ATTACK CHAOS BLADE 5108 5 0 0 60 BLOOD RITES (585)
SLASHING ATTACK MEERKAT 4963 13 12 0 58 THE ANIMALS (576)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is RABBIT 4965. The most popular warrior this turn was
MEERKAT 4963. The ten other most popular fighters were ROCK GLAS HUT FUN 4851,
CONCUSSION 4893, RABBIT 4965, CRIMSON MIST 5047, MEADE 5115, JACKSON 5127, ZIP 4383,
FEORDIS INK 4746, SANTA MARIA 5092, and BOILING BLOOD 5093.
The least popular fighter this week was AERYN SUN 4811. The other ten least popular
fighters were ZINGER 4890, BULL FROG 5022, AROURA 4928, MARSHMALLOW 4878, CONUNDRUM
4892, IMBER LACK 4748, MISS TOOK 4091, SIR MARTIN 5083, SAM 5101, and ALLEY CAT 5021.
Name-Change-O-Rama
The summer tourney brought a lot of people to the Isle who didn't appear there
normally. This included Commission employees. Half a dozen arenamasters regarded
each other warily in the mirror behind the bar at the Pig in a Haystack. The Pig was
obscure and mediocre, drawing few gladiators, which is what they had all been looking
for. They saw gladiators every day. Most arenamaster were convinced that this was
some kind of punishment.
You could always pick out the arenamasters in a crowd. There were superficial
differences: One of these had clearly Adantri features, one wore an eye-patch, two
were female. But there were, in significant ways, alike. The same size, the same
hair-trigger alertness, the same deadliness.
The one-eyed man broke the ice, raising his beer mug in salute. "I'm Zrof One-
Eye from Zukal. Sugar of Arvat--" One of the women bowed slightly. "I know Sugar.
The rest of you...?"
The Adantri matched his salute. "Dernal of Dayla Kiv."
"Daiyla Kiv? Ah...."
"No, without the 'I' in it. These damned bureaucrats can't spell, and they
thought adding an unnecessary vowel was exotic." Disgust dripped from his voice.
"Tell me about it!" another man growled in agreement. "Khagal of Niatoli, and
what they do to the spelling of THAT simple word--!"
"I thought Daiyla, I mean Dayla Kiv had a different name right now,"
Arenamistress Sugar said. "The arena, at least, because of a contest?"
"Chavez Ravine." Dernal's tone was the one that substituted in polite company
for spitting on the floor.
Zrof blinked, taken aback by the bitterness. He wouldn't have minded a contest
in Zukal, and damn what they called the place. "It's only temporary, though."
"Temporary, shmiperary," another man muttered. He seemed well into his drinking,
although, like all arenamasters, he carried his liquor well. "They do it all the time
in Aradi. No reshpect. Go around changing thish, changing that. I wish I could
change shome thingsh." He signalled the bartender for a refill.
The second woman put her hand over his mug. "You've had enough, Harkon. Try the
coffee, instead."
"You should be mad, too, Ripplesh," Harkon said. "They're going to do shtuff
like that in Jahnsh, aren't they?"
Ripples Dorrigan shrugged. All the men paused, some with glasses half raised, to
watch. "It's the way things are," she said. "Not much we can do about it."
"You know," Khagal of Niatoli said, "maybe we could make a few changes. Fix the
spelling of Arena 33, for one, change a few standby titles--"
"The Commission hates changes." Dernal of Dayla Kiv topped up his glass and
drained it gloomily.
"Yes, but if we disguise it," Sugar of Arvat said, excited, "make it... maybe a
general Name-Change-O-Rama! Then we could slip OUR changes through and no one would
notice or mind."
*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*
By popular demand, we are holding a Name-Change-o-Rama during the month of
September, 2008. If you wish to change the name of your warriors or teams, please
contact RSI Customer Service. The charge for a name change is $1.